Bellevue, Neb., Code of Ordinances ch. 15 (2026) § 15-193
EXCEPTIONS
Operative Text
(A) Nothing in this article shall prohibit a religious organization, association or society, or any nonprofit institution or organization operated, supervised or controlled by, or in conjunction with a religious organization, association or society, from limiting the sale, rental or occupancy of a dwelling which it owns or operates for other than commercial purposes to persons of the same religion or from giving preferences to such persons unless membership in such religion is restricted on account of race, color or national origin. Nor shall anything in this article prohibit a private club not in fact open to the public, which as an incident to its primary purpose or purposes provides lodgings which it owns or operates for other than commercial purposes, from limiting the rental or occupancy of such lodging to its members or from giving preference to its members. (B) Nothing in this article shall prohibit or limit the right of any person or his authorized representative to refuse to rent a room or rooms in his own home for any reason, or for no reason, or to change his tenants in his own home as often as he may desire; provided, that this exception shall not apply to any person who makes available for rental or occupancy more than four sleeping rooms to a person or family within his own home. (Ord. 2123, § 6, passed 3-10-1980)
Bellevue, Neb., Code of Ordinances ch. 15, art. VI § 15-193 carves out specific exceptions to the city's fair housing article. Religious organizations and affiliated nonprofits may give preference to members of their own religion when renting or selling dwellings they own for non-commercial purposes, as long as that religion does not restrict membership based on race, color, or national origin. Private clubs that are not open to the public may similarly limit lodging they own for non-commercial purposes to their own members. Additionally, an individual renting rooms within their own home may decline to rent or change tenants for any reason—or no reason—unless they make more than four sleeping rooms available for rent within that home.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating under Bellevue, Neb., Code of Ordinances ch. 15, art. VI § 15-193 should understand that the exceptions it creates are narrow and condition-specific. Religious organizations and private clubs that rely on these exceptions generally ensure their housing is used for non-commercial purposes and that any religious membership criteria do not exclude people based on race, color, or national origin. Individual homeowners who rent rooms within their own residence typically track how many sleeping rooms they make available, since the owner-occupied exception does not apply once more than four sleeping rooms are offered for rent within the home.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Bellevue, Neb., Code of Ordinances ch. 15, art. VI § 15-193, tenants should be aware that certain housing situations fall outside the article's general fair housing protections. If a religious organization, private club, or owner-occupied home with four or fewer rental sleeping rooms is involved, the usual anti-discrimination rules of this article may not apply. Tenants who believe an exception is being applied improperly—for example, where a religious preference appears to be based on race, color, or national origin—may wish to consult a local tenant-rights organization or the appropriate municipal authority to explore available options.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 5, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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